This series features interviews with developers of intriguing new indie games. In this installment, we bring you a mini-interview with the developer of *The Loopler*, a slot car roguelike released on September 11 for PC, Mac, and Linux, created by Mheep.
This game is a deck-building roguelike centered around high-speed slot cars. Players build decks by combining cards with various effects to create synergies. One of its key features is the ability to build decks around a variety of concepts—whether aiming for a high score or chasing speed. The game also supports Japanese.
*The Loopler* is available for 999 yen (799 yen with a 20% discount until November 10).
――First, please introduce yourself. What’s your favorite game?
Mheep: Hello! I’m Mheep, the solo developer behind “The Loopler.” My favorite game is probably “Hollow Knight: Silksong.” The combination of its perfectly balanced difficulty and beautiful visuals is simply the best.
――Could you tell us about the game’s key features? Also, how did you come up with the idea for it?
Mheep: This game blends the casual nature of an idle game with roguelike mechanics.Players take on the role of a single car racing around a circuit. You place “gates” on the track, collect cards, and gather charms while aiming to reach the round’s target score. The perfect blend of autonomous driving and tactical decision-making is what sets this game apart.
――Were there any games that influenced the development of this title?
Mheep: Without a doubt, the biggest influence was *Balatro* (which I personally consider the “king” of roguelikes). But at the same time, I drew inspiration from the roguelike genre itself. Since roguelikes are my favorite game genre, I wanted to create a roguelike game—for my own sake as well.
――Could you share one particularly memorable moment from the game’s development?
Mheep: The most memorable moment during development was back in February of this year, when we were preparing to release a demo version of the game. With only two weeks left until the release, we made the decision to completely redo the game’s graphics from scratch. We managed to finish it just in time, one or two days before the release, but I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone.
――What kind of user feedback have you received since the release? Please share any that stood out to you.
We’ve received all kinds of feedback on *Mheep*, ranging from positive to negative. While the majority of the response has been positive, both types of feedback are equally valuable and have clearly shown us what we need to improve in the future.
One request that stood out in particular was, “Please release a smartphone version.” It seems players want to be able to play *The Loopler* anywhere.
――Taking user feedback into account, could you tell us about your plans for future updates?
Mheep: Our current plan is to release an update soon that includes additional content and balance adjustments. After that, we’d like to consider a mobile version, and if possible, a console version as well. We can’t promise anything just yet, though!
――Could you tell us about the Japanese language support for this game? How has the response been from Japan?
Mheep: The game supports Japanese. Before release, we put out a call for volunteer localization contributors, and several people reached out to us. By working together with them, we were able to complete the Japanese translation. As of now, I haven’t seen any feedback from Japanese players regarding the translation, but I hope it turned out well.
――Is it okay to stream or monetize this game?
Mheep: We’re more than happy for players to create videos or stream the game. It really makes me happy to see videos posted and to watch players enjoying the game while sharing their experiences.
――Finally, please share a message for our Japanese readers.
Thank you for your interest in Mheep’s *The Loopler*! As a solo developer, it brings me immense joy to see everyone playing and enjoying the game I created.
I hope you enjoy the game, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Thank you so much for your warm support!
――Thank you very much.
◆ About “Spotlight on Indie Mini-Q&A”
This series features email interviews with indie developers shortly after their games are released. To ensure regular publication, we’ve standardized the questions, with the goal of sharing the voices of as many developers as possible. Please also enjoy our other interview articles, which now number over 1,000.
